By
Euronews

A court in Italy has reinstated guilty verdicts against Amanda Knox and Raffaele Sollecito for the murder of Meredith Kercher.

Knox – who had stayed in the US – was sentenced to 28 years and six months in jail in her absence. Sollecito was given 25 years.

Members of the Kercher family had travelled to Florence to hear the latest verdict. The British student, who shared a flat with Knox, was found dead with her throat slashed in 2007.

Admitting his disappointment at the decision, Knox’s lawyer Luciano Ghirga said: ‘‘For those convinced, like me, like we all are, of Amanda’s innocence, this is a bad blow. Judgements must be respected but we can appeal. There is a mechanism to do this and we will.’‘

Sollectio’s solicitor Giulia Bongiorno also told reporters:
“This long ordeal has resulted in both acquittals and convictions. He is completely dumbfounded in the face of this game of judicial ping-pong.’‘

With a fresh appeal likely Sollecito, the ex-boyfriend of Knox, was not taken into custody and instead was ordered to surrender his passport..

The latest verdict opens the way for extradition proceedings to begin against Knox, who refused to leave the US.